St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-12

critics manages to set this scene, IS as
great source of conjecture as the
reasons that induce him to mold his
genius to the histrionic requisites OF the
play Every theatre-goer knew John ].
Raymond ate pared apples as Colonel
Mulberry Sellers, in the "Gilded Age,
whereas the action of the scene called
for turnips. So much for eating and
drinking on the stage.
More ingenious is the cleVerness en-
ployed to depict other accessories to
complete dramatic production. rs
pretty stage snow storm as one would
wish to witness happens in THE Two
Orphans" The material for this dis
play was formerly tinely-c cut paper, pre-
pared by bOokbinders; in its pl~"e
white kid in equally as small pieces is
utilized at present for such purposes.
They can be gathered up more really
and last longer than paper, besiGes he
ultimate saving in cost. Salt haNgs
with better effect to a hat or coat, and
gives thoroughly realistic look to the
character that has just stepped in
doors from the storm. If flash
, of lightning is needed, the effect can re
gained, where electric lights are burned,
by rapidly switching the current. The
e-honored scheme is to flash torch
of alcohol, rosin or lacapOdium. Stage
thunder is the rustling of sheet Of iron
suspended from a rafter and set into
noisy motion by long handle. A moro
effective way is to roll heavy cannon
balls along gutter with breaks in it
after the fashion of those seen in ten pin
alleys. This continuance gives more dis
lance to the sound. Iron switches punched
like a broom wisp when beaten to-
gether will give forth the imitation
of hail dropping, and beans or
dried peas inside barrel that is turned
quickly serve the need of pattering rain.
In the "White Slave" water is utilized.
! The bowling wind comes from a wheel
that forces the air violently through
| big tin funnel with a whistle at the
smaller end The audience shivers at it,
but it may have only been the ancient
/ wind the prOpertyman makes by draw
/ ing his thumb and in,iex finger down
rosined string running through hole in
little tin box such as coffee essence is
, packed in. That is the trick of the
/ wind in "Davv Crockett" when the
wolves are at the cabin door. Tempest
tossed waves and their white caps that
meet the eye of the liberated Count of
Monte Cristo as he stands on ocean rock
beyond the Chateau DIFF and announces
with Georgian assurance, The world is
mine" are but few bags Of saltpetre, or
plain salt tossed on green cloth against
scene. The mighty motions Of the sea
that awe the small boy in the gallery
who has "Romany Rye" on the brain
comprise the united efforts Of four
men, two on either side of the stage,
who shake a length of emerald baize
known as sea cloth" This prop
ertv showed to excellent advantage
in the opera of the "Flying Dutchman,'
when rendered by the National Opera
Company, and in The World by the
Boston Museum Combination. A pair
of wooden squares covered with sand
paper and rubbed together announces
the coming of the engine in across the
Continent.' A wisp of wires does sim
liar service for the locomotive in The
Main Line" The warning whistle as the
supposed train reaches the station is the
steam escaping from whistle after the
propertv-man has turned it loose.
The exigency is suited by large tin
whistle, if there is no steam gen
Grated in the theatre. Cheerful, in
deed, looked the fire on the hearth in the
kitchen of Hazel kirkes home, when
she suited it for the castle of Arthur
Caringford. Gas jets and colored glass
caused the illusion. To be kicked down
stairs should be severe punishment; it
seems doublv so when down on the stage
for the crash crank, machine with lot
of loose shingles working on cog
makes the Juror all the greater.
Once in a while a gentleman Is fired
through paper window and in his descent
apparently knocks into smithereens a
skHlight A demijohn wicker cover in
tact, holding broken glass, dropped as
the actor takes flight, consummates the
disaster to the ignominious character.
This fake" incites the disabilities of the
humorously inclined as soon as it is hit
on the stage, suit the language of a
servant, who, with horror on his face.
says he let fall the supper dishes on the
landing outside. A steam pipe, or, when
not convenient, Stacked lime, will cause q
semblance of dust or smoke in earth
quakes and explosions.
\ poorly equipped theatre it is, in
deed, that has not around genius who
can bark like a dog or crow after the
manner of cock. A wonder to an
audience is how change is wrought so
rapidly from interior to exterior scenes
in THE Shraughran," Youth" and
other plays where no frames are pushed
together or drops used. The trans
formation is in view of the people, yet
they see no indications of men pushing
nothing but a roundabout movement,
and the change is done. The secret is
that in the scene are partitions
large enough for men to stand upright
between them, and when the cue is
spoken they walk inside the scene, taking
one part from sight as they go and turn
ing to the gaze of the audience another
of an entirely different nature. Realistic
properties are steadily encroaching on
the art of the property man. A cage of
lions in "Theodora," horses in "Jalma,"
Kerry Cow" and dozens of other plays,
babies galore hired with their mothers,
elephants and camels in "The Fall of
Babylon" bloodhounds in "Uncle Toms
Cabin" are but forerunners of an era
that will leave nothing faxed" but the
scenery. FELIX BARNLEY.
CLERICAL CRITICS.